Buddyhead sits down for an expansive interview with Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine. It’s interesting to hear Kevin speak so frankly about the demise of MBV and the “lost years” between Loveless and his return to the public eye with Primal Scream and the Lost In Translation score. The piece quite rightly points out that he’d become a myth of Brian Wilson proportions, figuratively if not literally (though he is a bit heftier than he was…) – the bit of apocrypha that I latched onto in particular was that he’d given up music to raise chinchillas (Don’t believe me? Read this interview from last year). The idea of this architect of sonic cathedrals sharing a home with hordes of soft, furry rodents appeals to me somehow.

But what is exciting is to hear Shields talk about the forthcoming archival MBV releases matter-of-factly. I do think Loveless could benefit from a remastering, and unreleased tracks are always welcome. His comments on the artwork are interesting as well – the cover of Loveless is so iconic now, I wonder what it was originally intended to look like.

If you’re looking for more MBV love on the internet, the fansite I linked above and Tremolo are both excellent resources with loads of links and info. This site has a goodly number of live recordings available to download (quality’s not great, but I don’t think that the recording equipment exists to survive the live MBV experience and sound good doing it). Loveless is also the subject a forthcoming volume in the 33 1/3 series of books.

And if you don’t know who Kevin Shields or My Bloody Valentine were, well damn – I can’t talk to you. Go here and be enlightened.

Speaking of massively influential musical recluses, The BBC talks to Portishead’s Geoff Barrow and discovers that the band has not gone the way of the dodo after all. Besides playing a tsunami relief show in February, they are in the midst of recording their third album – their first in eight years. Coincidentally, I dusted off my Portishead records this week for the first time in ages – I’d forgotten how good and utterly unique they were and still are. A new record is good news.

The indie kids will be wetting themselves over the new video for The Postal Service’s “We Will Become Silhouettes”. It’s ironic! It’s profound! It’s kitschy! It’s directed by the guy who did Napoleon Dynamite! It’s got Jenny Lewis! It’s got that dreamy Ben Gibbard! See it here. The EP for the single is out February 8. From Largehearted Boy.

Possibly the best team-up since chocolate and peanut butter, Calexico and Iron & Wine got together for some recording sessions at the end of last year, the fruits of which will see the light of day in Fall of this year as a 7-song EP entitled Lays in the Reigns. And to pour gravy on that proverbial peanut butter cup, they’ll be touring to support.

Sleater-Kinney’s new album, and their first for SubPop, has been given the title of The Woods and the release date of May 24. Pitchfork has more deets.

South San Gabriel, the kinder, gentler side of Centro-Matic, will release The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation’s Through on April 5.

Bettie Serveert’s February 10 show will be at the Horseshoe, not Lee’s Palace.

Someone really hates Dave Lowery. Camper Van Beethoven’s gear was stolen. Again.

np – Saturday Looks Good To Me / Every Night

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